Contents

Story

Three months have gone by since the events of the first game. The Terror Mask, which has reformed after breaking at the climax of the first game, appears to Rick and repeatedly tempts him to "go back to the house", telling him that Jennifer "doesn't have to die", It closes by telling Rick "You need me."[2][3]

Gameplay

Splatterhouse 2 features gameplay very similar to the first game.[4] The player controls Rick through eight different stages, each two-dimensional. Rick's attacks remain laregly unchanged, able to punch, kick, jump kick, and slide kick, as well as use several weapons scattered throughout the levels. Each level features a boss at the end, often a grotesque monster. New additions to the gameplay include a difficulty setting and a password system, taken from Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti.[4]

Regional differences

In the western versions of the game, the design of the terror mask is skull-like. In the Japanese version, the mask is white with black stripes over each eye, the mask loosely resembles a Japanese kabuki mask.[4] Due to the translation when the game was localized, some elements are clearer in the Japanese version. In it, the Mask instructs Rick to "find the hidden house" and that Jennifer is in "the land of the dead". In the western version, the Mask instructs Rick to "go back to the house" and does not specify where Jennifer is. This has caused some confusion among players that have not played the original Japanese version, with several believing that the intact mansion in the second game is the West Mansion from the original Splatterhouse, when in fact the charred ruins that make up the first stage are what's left of West Mansion (these ruins can also be clearly seen in the opening of the game, before the screen scrolls over to reveal the other mansion, aka the "hidden house").

Reception

Splatterhouse 2 gameplay

Upon reviewing the game for its Virtual Console release, Lucas Thomas of IGN noted that he was largely unimpressed with the game's lack of innovation, ultimately giving it a 5.5 out of 10.[5] While he praised the game's continuation of its gory presentation, he wrote that "Splatterhouse 2 is even more violent and replete with even more disturbing images, the shock value is largely gone. We've seen it all before".

^Opening: It’s been 3 months since the tragedy. Rick has been suffering from nightmares. Nightmares in which he couldn’t help Jennifer... You can help her, Rick! She isn’t going to die. If you want to save her, you must find the hidden house. You will find the secret of bringing life. I will give you the power.Namco. Splatterhouse 2. (Namco). Sega Mega Drive. (1992)

^Opening (NA)It’s been three months since your escape. Haunted by guilt and tormented by nightmares... Nightmares of... Jennifer’s screams and the infernal temptations of the mask. “She doesn’t have to die, Rick.” “We can save her.” “Go back to the house.” “I’ll find you there...” “Only I can give you the power.” “You need me.”Namco. Splatterhouse 2. (Namco). Sega Genesis. (1992)